Arthur Pays Tribute To Golden Girl Mum

GOLDEN GIRLS co-stars BEA ARTHUR and RUE McCLANAHAN have become the first celebrities to pay tribute to actress ESTELLE GETTY, who died early on Tuesday (22Jul08).

Arthur, who played Getty's daughter on the hit sitcom, says, "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her."

McClanahan adds, "Estelle always wanted to be an actress and she achieved that goal beyond her dreams. Don't feel sad about her passing, she will always be with us in her crowning achievement."

Getty died at her Los Angeles, California, home from Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disease.